Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-11
DAILY HERALD.
EMMA NEVADA AT HONE.

EMMA NEVADA Az HOME.
The Prestdemt,s Cousin Inter-
views the Prima DOna and
Her Baby.
LONDON. July 23.-Banks of flowers,
a smooth green lawn, plenty OF light
and air, through the big bow windows,
rough stone walls covered with vines,
and the whole shut in from the vulgar
world by trees and shrubbery-such
is the spot in great busy London which
our western song-bird has chosen for
her nest, here is where Emma Nevada
Palmer lives, with her husband and
her baby. She met me in the hall
with cordial welcome, and, in reply
to my apology for a morning call,
said: ooh, you know we used to
have Sunday as a reception day, but
our friends came in such crowds that
our little house would not hold them
all, so now we are always at home un-
til in the afternoon. But come this
way, where it's cooler. There" she
said in her naive way. with smile
that would take fortress, isn't this
nice |'
Nice we'll, rather. 1t was like one
OF Kiralfy's transformation scenes. A
moment before / had been on dusty
street in broiling sun, and now
we'll, yes, it was nice. The nodding
ivy branches at the open windows
kept out the heat, and let in cool,
tanning breeze. Then the room
where she had brought me was so at
tractive, so characteristic; the grand
piano covered with photographs OF
actresses and singers, full-length
portrait of Nevada in one of her great
roles, host of indescribable knick-
nacks, and, best of all, the true, the
original Nevada, sitting there in a
dainty morning gown, and looking out
of her dancing eyes in maddening
way. Nevada is too serious name
for her. 1t conveys wrong idea.
It's sort of political, strong-minded
name, and ii ever woman was not
strong-minded she is that woman.
There is only one word which really
suits her, and that is Mignonne. She
looks SO pretty.
so WINNING, so GIRLIsH,
that you feel like saying to her: "Oh,
you cunning little thing" and it is
simply ridiculous when she begins
talking about her baby, at least it
would be ridiculous were it not so
touching.
She was speaking of probable con-
tinental tour this coming fall, and |
asked her if she would take her little
girl with her.
"Will take her? Well, | should
think l will. My manager asked me
that same question while ago, and |
told him that, if he left baby behind,
he would have to leave me, too. Oh,
you men, you don't know what it is to
be a mother"
I was obliged to admit certain
amount of masculine ignorance on
the subject, and proceeded to inquire
i as to baby's musical proclivities.
"Well, I'll tell you curious thing
about that" she said: whenever l
sing, baby sets up such a determined
opposition that she has to be taken
from the room, and yet the singing OF
any one else has no effect on her at all.
We have not yet decided whether she
WISiltS Ill IlliS way W llulCdlo licI dP
proval, or the contrary"
perhaps" l suggested, "she is ar
ranging for future operate career
herself, and is already beginning to
feel the professional jealously."
"Oh, that's really too bad of you,"
Nevada replied, laughing; "but, Sc
riously, if she should develop any
musical talent, l should not hesitate
for a moment to let her go on the
stage. So many singers say to me
that they would never allow their
children to endure what they them
selves have been through, but my
public experience has been such a
lovely one that could not wish my
child happier life
So she ran on proudly about her
little baby, her face aglow with the
purest love which the human heart
can feel, and as she spoke l forgot the
great prima donna,
FORGOT THE MARVELLOUS VOICE
And the scores of triumphs, and saw
Hhere before me only the young mother
in all her simple innocence.
"Did | not see you last night" |
asked. ''at Irving's 'Faust?'" 3"
eyes, indeed you did, and | boo
hooed all through it. | have sung as
Marguerite in the opera many times,
but have never before seen the play,
and had never seen Irving. Don't
YOU think he has just the face for Me-
phistopheles?" she said with mis-
chieyous smile. "And his eyes. He
shows the whites so much; but | sup
pose that is the paint on the
lids. Ellen Terry looks to me
lust the same on the stage as
off it. Isn't she splendid? You re-
member that scene outside the church,
where she stands alone, scorned by
her companions and suffering so ter
ribly. Well she really does cry there,
saw the tears trickling down her
cheeks. Do you know how she does
it? Feel the grief? Oh, how could
she after three hundred performances
It would kill her ii she did. No, she
explained it to me herself. 1t seems
she has got the trick of forcing the
tears by looking at the bright chan
delier very intently for few moments.
It's curious, int it? l could not do it,
/ am sure"
Speaking of painting the eyelids,
is it not very disagreeable to gothrough
this making up process!"
''Of course it is" she replied; "it is
not only disagreeable, but it's very
tedious. Why, sometimes l have to
spend two hours in preparing my
face"
81 suppose that is when you have
to take the part of some ugly old
witch ?'
"You see," she went on, quite
ignoring my attempt at a compliment
sEthere is first a layer OF cold cream tc
be put on; then, after that has dried
there are layers of several othel
things, supposed to preserve the Skin
from
CONTACT WITH THE PAINT,
II IaatIxr tho colpra tham col yac